Plans to renovate old City Auditorium in Colorado Springs now on hold

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A community group that formed two years ago to oversee a $60 million renovation of the old downtown City Auditorium has announced that those plans have been "paused."

In a statement released Tuesday night, Linda Weise, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective (CSCCC), explained that fundraising for the project has fallen below expectations.

"We made the difficult decision to end our memorandum of understanding agreement with the City of Colorado Springs, and pause renovation plans that were due to start January 2024," she wrote.

The CSCCC revealed its plans in June 2021 to renovate the historic building, which opened in 1923, by adding two floors, a restaurant and bar, and upgraded venues that would provide and attract artistic and cultural events.

However, in order to manage the restoration and capitalize on available COVID-19 recovery funds, the City Council would have to approve transferring ownership of the auditorium to the CSCCC.

"We hope to continue a conversation with city leadership on the best way forward for City Auditorium," Weise added in the statement. "We still passionately believe in our vision of a community cultural center for this century-old building; we believe in preserving our past and preparing for future community use."

The building hosts several local events, including free holiday dinners for the needy; recently, it served as an isolation ward for COVID-19 patients experiencing homelessness.

Since the announcement of renovation plans two years ago, the project's cost has surged to more than $80 million; City Council president Randy Helms said that, along with the lack of donations, led the city to decide against investing for now.

"I think we take some time and evaluate all the different opportunities -- whether it's a profit organization versus a nonprofit, whether it's city skin in the game, or continue what we're doing," he said. "I think the auditorium is worth saving because it's an important part of our history."

Helms said that the city will review the proposal in a year or two, when -- hopefully -- the city will be in a better financial position.

Weise emphasized that the project won't end here.

"We’ve demonstrated that the community needs this building, they want this building to be saved," she said. "They want the ability to have a space that is specific to culture, creativity and the ability to come together, no matter where you live in the region.”